50 years old
Date of birth: August 29th, 1958
Place of birth: Gary, Indiana, United States of America
Date of passing: June 25th, 2009
Place of passing: Los Angeles, California, U.S.A
Michael Jackson was an African American singer-songwriter, entertainer, dancer, humanitarian, music producer, innovator, choreographer, actor, businessman, musician, and philanthropist
Best known as “ The King of Pop”
Won the Guinness world record for best all time selling album in human history.

Quote: “I don't care if the whole world is against you or teasing you or saying you're not gonna make it. Believe in yourself. No matter what.”

His Life

Early Life:

Michael Jackson was born on August 29th, 1958, in Gary Indiana into an African American working class family. His father Joseph Walter Jackson was a steel mill worker who performed with an R&B band called The Falcons. Michael Jackson had three sisters: Rebbie, La Toya, Janet and six brothers: Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy and Brandon who was an older twin of Marlon who died shortly after birth. Jacksons mother Katherine Esther Scruse, was a devout Jehovah’s Witness. Jackson had a tough childhood and had a troubled relationship with his father Joe. In the early 1960’s his dad had moulded them into a musical group, at first the Jackson family performers consisted of Michael’s older brothers Tito, Jermaine, and Jackie. Michael joined his siblings when he was only five, and emerged as the group’s lead vocalist, shortly after Michael joined his older brother Marlon joined the group and so the Jackson 5 group was born. At first, the Jackson 5 played at local gigs and built a strong following, then moved onto to working an opening act for such R&B artists as Gladys Knight and the Pip, James brown, and Sam and Dave.

Teenage Life:

At the age of 13, Jackson launched a solo career in addition to his work with the Jackson 5. His first solo album was “Got to Be There”, which was released by Motown Records on January 24th, 1972, which went onto sell over 3.2 million copies worldwide. Michael Jackson attended Montclair Prep College which was located in California and also attended Cal Prep high school in San Fernando. Jackson was a very shy and timid teen, who was very popular with the women in college. Overall Michael’s teenage life was a very good one who obtained a lot of success and fame at a very early age in his music career.

Adult Life:

Michael Jackson had a very successful adult life by the age of 24 he was one of the most famous and influential human beings of all time. Despite all the material success he had he often said he still felt alone and wanted to be loved that’s why he loved performing; it wasn’t just about the money and fame for him. The tabloids and the media didn’t help during his adult life making rumours up and fake stories. Despite all the negativity that surrounded Michael’s life during his adult life he went on to break numerous world records in his music career, Thriller an album which was released when Michael was only 24 became the all time bestselling album in human history.

Career:

1958- Michael Joseph Jackson was born
1968- Jackson 5 signed to Motown Records
1970- Jackson 5 Top Charts
1971- Going Solo
1978- Appears in the Film version of “The Wiz” where he meets Quincy Jones, who later produces his best- known albums
1979- Michael’s Jacksons (age 21); First album is released “Off the Wall”. It produces for hit singles and spends eight months in the Top 10.
1982- “ Thriller is released and tops the album charts for 37 weeks, yielding a staggering seven hits, leading The Guinness Book of Records in 1985 to proclaim it the best-selling album of all time.
1983- Jackson shows off his signature move the “moonwalk” and at year’s end releases the 14-minute minimovie based on the song “ Thriller” which is considered to be the most important music video clip in music history
1984- Michael Jackson is treated for serious burns to his head after his hair caught fire during an accident while singing his hit “Billie Jean” for a Pepsi commercial.
1987- Bad the seventh studio album is released; it tops the charts for eight weeks and produces seven hit singles.
1991- Debut of “Black or white” the 11minute controversial video appears on television for the first time. Black or white was from his hit album “Dangerous” his third No. 1 album in a row
1993- Jackson receives the Living Legend Award at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
1994- Michael marries Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. They divorce two years later
1996- Michael walks down the aisle for a second time this time with Debbie Rowe
1997- “ Blood on the dance floor the single is released
2000- “Thriller” goes Platinum, receiving its 26th platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America
2001- Michael Jackson is inducted into the Hall of Fame and he also releases his first album in four years “Invincible”
2002- An uproar starts after Michael dangles his 9month old son over a hotel balcony in Berlin
2003- Goes on trial charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14, Michael beats all the claims are proves his innocence and all charges are dropped
2009- Michael Jackson is preparing a comeback tour in London

June 25th 2009- Michael Jackson (THE KING) is pronounced dead..

Family Life: Michael Jackson had a great family life that had a very strong bond with all of his family. He had two surviving parents, eight siblings, his three children, and numerous nieces and nephews also with grand nephews and nieces.